Foxes, Mink, Others Cruelly Killed for Fur Coats, Jackets, and Handbags
ALBANY, N.Y., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- State Senator Malcolm A. Smith
(D-14, Queens) and State Assemblymember Scott Stringer (D-67, Manhattan) have
introduced legislation to ban an especially inhumane method of killing animals
for their fur: anal and genital electrocution. This practice is commonly used
to kill furbearing animals such as foxes, mink, and chinchillas raised in
factory farms for full-length fur coats and fur-trimmed garments such as
jackets, hats, and handbags. The Senate bill is S. 7765 and the Assembly bill
number has yet to be assigned.
"As the weather becomes colder and fashion magazines and retailers are
pushing fur garments, consumers need to know that the main ingredient in fur
is animal cruelty," said Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals,
headquartered in New York City. "Whether used for full-length fur coats or a
little bit of fur trim on cuffs or collars, anal and genital electrocution of
foxes, mink, and chinchillas is extremely cruel and gruesome and needs to be
banned."
Anal and genital electrocution is not an approved euthanasia method
according to the guidelines of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The AVMA considers electrocution appropriate only as a stunning method to be
used prior to another method of euthanasia, not as a one-step killing method
as it is commonly used on fur farms. When animals are electrocuted through
their anus or genitals, the electricity does not go through and stun the
brain; the animals must remain awake and feel the full excruciating force of a
massive heart attack. According to the AVMA, "Use of a nose-to-tail or nose-
to-foot method alone may kill the animal by inducing cardiac fibrillation, but
the animal may be conscious for a period of time before death. Therefore,
these techniques are not acceptable."
"The electrocution of defenseless animals is unacceptable," said
Assemblymember Scott Stringer. "It is an inhumane practice, incongruent even
with the standards of this industry and must be put to a stop immediately."
Although the practice is common in the U.S. fur industry, even industry
trade groups say they do not sanction anal and genital electrocution.
According to Fur Commission USA, "The only method of euthanasia approved by
Fur Commission USA is bottled gas, either pure carbon monoxide or carbon
dioxide." Moreover, the legislation does not ban fur farming or put farmers
out of business. It only bans one especially inhumane method of killing.
Other legal methods of killing animals on fur farms include carbon monoxide or
carbon dioxide poisoning, lethal injection of barbiturates, and cervical
dislocation. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2002 there
were only five mink farms in New York State, producing a total of 4,800 mink
pelts. There is no data available for fox or chinchilla farms.
Added Markarian, "The electrocution of foxes was banned in the United
Kingdom, and foxes reared for fur were instead killed by lethal injection.
New Yorkers should set a humane standard for the United States by banning the
cruel anal and genital electrocution of animals for their fur, which is sold
in so many New York department stores and boutiques."
More information on the fur industry is available on The Fund for Animals'
web site: http://www.fund.org/fur.
SOURCE The Fund for Animals
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.fund.org
CONTACT:
Michael Markarian of The Fund for Animals,
+1-301-585-2591, ext. 216; or Felicia Feinerman of Assemblymember
Scott Stringer's Office, +1-212-873-6368
|
